Cartons for holding cylindrical objects



1967 R. J. HENNESSEY 3 ,338,394

CARTONS FOR HOLDING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed May 20, 1965 INVENTOR United States Patent ()fifice 3,338,394 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 This invention relates to an improvement in cartons for holding cylindrical objects and deals particularly with paperboard cartons having means for securing a can within a carton.

It has been a common practice for producers of various products to package a plurality of the products in a single carton so that the consumer will purchase more than a single item. For instance, certain manufacturers of foodstuffs have packaged a single can of chow mein and combined in the carton a package of noodles. It has also been a practice for producers of foodstuffs to package a can of, for instance, hot dish with a can, generally made of paperboard, or roll mix. This resulted in a situation where the can of hot dish was considerably heavier and perhaps larger than the can of roll mix. It has now been proposed that cartons be provided to package and combine a heavy can securely within the carton and a lighter can or package in the same carton in such a way that the lighter item does not come in contact with the heavy can in a way that results in damage to the lighter item. Such a procedure not only reduces the cost of packaging and damage to the lighter item packed within the carton, but also tends to persuade the customer to buy the product in greater volume.

Among the packaging devices presently available for achieving the combining of a light and heavy can, or a can and package of a fragile nature, are banding devices which simply band the products together to arrive at the combination or unit which is to be sold. Holders are also available which comprise sleeves or bands into which the cans are inserted or with which the cans are wrapped. These holders, of course, may only be utilized when combining cans and particularly cans of the same size.

Banding of products is most appropriate for items of identical size, shape, and weight, and therefore not readily adaptable to unitizing a large heavy can with a smaller lighter can. Nor is banding suitable for combining a can with a dissimilar item such as a bag of noodles. Holders presently available have the limitations as set forth for handing devices. Neither holders nor banding devices afford suitable areas for proper advertising and particularly for advertising geared to induce the consumer toaccept the combined items.

It is an object of my invention to provide a carton adapted to enclose a heavy and light can and secure the heavy can to the carton.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide a carton for packaging a can with a package of a fragile nature in such way that the can is secured to the carton thereby minimizing damage to the fragile item.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a carton which affords sufiicient area for the printing of advertising regarding the unitized items within the carton.

It is an additional feature of my invention to utilize a carton construction which afiords complete protection to the items within the carton yet is cut from a minimum of paperboard stock.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of the can carton in closed position enclosing a secured heavy can with a lighter can.

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the can carton shown in FIGURE 1, the section taken along the section line 22 of FIGURE 1 through the center of the cans on a plane parallel to the length of the cans.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the can carton of FIG- URE l, the section taken along section line 33 of FIGURE 1 on a plane parallel to the ends of the cans.

FIGURE 4 is a diagramamtic view of the blank from g which the can carton is formed.

The construction of the carton is best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the diagrammatic view showing the blank from which the can carton is formed. The carton includes an end wall 10, a side wall 11, an end wall 12, and a side wall 13 having parallel top and bottom edges and parallel side edges which side and end walls are foldably connected along parallel fold lines 14, 15 and 16. A glue flap 17 is hingedly connected to one wall at the end of the blank such as the side wall 13 along a fold line 19. Glue flap 17 is adapted to be secured in overlapping relation to the inner surface of end wall 10.

A top closure assembly is hingedly connected to the top of the carton and includes top flap 20 hingedly connected to end wall 12 along fold line 21. Locking tab 22 is hingedly connected to top flap 20 along fold line 23. End tabs 24 are hingedly connected to the side walls 11 and 13 along fold lines 25 which are substantially aligned with fold line 21. A bottom closure assembly is hingedly connected to the bottom of the carton and includes bottom flap 27 hingedly connected to end Wall 10 along fold line 28. Locking tab 29 is hingedly connected to the bottom flap 27 along fold line 30. End tabs 31 are hingedly connected to the side walls 11 and 13 along fold lines 32 which are substantially aligned with fold line 28. I

Chime engaging tabs 34 are illustrated on side walls 11 and 13 and are designed to be cut from the side walls 11 and 13 located a predetermined distance downwardly from the top edge thereof, and foldable degrees inwardly into the carton to engage the chimes of the cans enclosed in the can carton and to secure the can adjacent the top closure assembly. The chime engaging tabs are defined by arcuate cut lines 35, fold lines 36 which are parallel to fold lines 25, and side out lines 37 which are parallel to fold lines 14, 15, and 16 and which intersect arcuate cut lines 35 and fold lines 36.

FIGURE 1, a diagrammatic view of the can carton, shows the carton completely assembled, top and bottom closure assemblies in place and the chime engaging tabs folded inwardly to engage the chimes of the can packed within the can carton. FIGURE 1 shows top flap 20 folded downwardly into closed position. Glue flap 17 is shown in the preferred embodiment as overlapping and secured to end wall 10. Chime engaging tabs 34 are folded inwardly, engaging the chimes of the can. along fold lines 36. Arcuate cut lines 35 are shown as well as cut lines 37 parallel to fold lines 14 and 15.

In FIGURE 2, the intersection between the chime engaging tabs 34 and the can A may be seen. The chime engaging tabs 34 are shown against the chime of the can A. Can B is shown below can A and is not secured to the carton.

In FIGURE 3, cans A and B and show the location of the the chime of the can A.

In assembling the can carton for shipment to the packager, the carton is typically prepared by simply folding end wall 10 inwardly along fold line 14 and into face contact with side wall 11 and end wall panel 12. Side wall 13 with glue flap 17 is then folded inwardly along fold line 16 into face contact with end wall panel 12 are seen in cross section chime engaging tabs 34 on 3 and with glue flap 17 overlapping and in registry with end wall 10. Glue flap 17 is secured to end Wall at this point.

The packages may then square up the carton by folding along fold line 19 and fold line thereby arranging the side and end walls in tubular relation, ready to receive the items to be packed in the can carton. The can must be inserted in the package from the bottom of the can carton toward the top. The chime engaging tabs are simultaneously forced inwardly and the action of the can folds the chime engaging tabs inwardly substantially 180 degrees and the chime engaging tabs subsequently engage the chimes of the can.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in can cartons; while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A can carton, in combination with a recessed end can having peripheral projecting chimes encircling its ends, said can carton including side and end walls having parallel top and bottom edges and parallel side edges hingedly along parallel fold lines and secured in tubular relation, a top closure assembly including end tabs hingedly connected to the top edges of said side walls and folded inwardly into substantially face contact with said can, a top flap hingedly connected to the top edge of one of said end walls folded into face contact with said end tabs and secured thereto, a bottom closure assembly including end tabs hingedly connected to the bottom edges of said side walls and folded inwardly into substantially coplanar relation, a bottom flap hingedly connected to the bottom edge of the other of said end walls folded into face contact with said end tabs and secured thereto, and chime engaging tabs formed from each of said side Walls a predetermined distance downwardly from the top edge thereof folded inwardly substantially 180 degrees and engaging the chimes of said can thereby securing the can adjacent the top closure assembly.

2. A can carton, in combination with a recessed end can having peripheral projecting chimes encircling its ends, said can carton including side and end walls having parallel top and bottom edges and parallel side edges hingedly connected along parallel fold lines and arranged in tubular relation, a glue flap hingedly connected to the side edge of one of said side Walls and secured in overlapping relation to the inner surface of one of said end walls, a top closure assembly including end tabs hingedly connected to the top edges of said side walls and folded inwardly into substantially face contact with said can, a top flap having parallel top and bottom edges and parallel side edges hingedly connected to the top edge of one of said end Walls along the bottom edge thereof and folded into face contact with said end tabs, a locking flap hingedly connected to the top edge of said top flap folded inwardly and into face contact with the inside surface of the other of said end walls thereby engaging said end tabs and securing said top flap in face contact with said end tabs, a bottom closure assembly including end tabs hingedly connected to the bottom edges of said side walls and folded inwardly into substantially coplanar relation, a bottom flap having parallel top and bottom edges and parallel side edges hingedly connected to the bottom edge of one of said end walls along the bottom edge thereof and folded into face contact with said end tabs, a locking flap hingedly connected to the top edge of said bottom flap folded inwardly and into face contact with the inside surface of the other of said end walls thereby engaging said end tabs and securing said bottom flap in face contact with said end tabs, and chime engaging tabs formed from each of said side walls a predetermined distance downwardly from the top edge thereof folded inwardly substantlaliy 180 degrees and engaging the chimes of said can thereby securing the can adjacent the top closure assembly each chime engaging tab defined by a fold line parallel to the top edge of said side wall and a substantial distance below the top edge and an arcuate cut line substantially below the fold line and intersecting and terminating at the ends of the fold line.

3. A can carton blank including side and end walls having parallel top and bottom edges and parallel side edges hingedly connected and adapted to be arranged in tubular relation, a top closure assembly including a top flap hingedly connected to the top edge of one of said end walls, end tabs hingedly connected to the top edges of said side walls and a locking flap hingedly connected to the top flap, a bottom closure assembly including a bottom flap hingedly connected to the bottom edge of the other of said end walls, end tabs hingedly connected to the bottom edges of said side walls and a locking flap hingedly connected to the bottom flap, and chime engaging tabs formed from each of said side walls a predetermined distance downwardly from the top edge thereof and adapted to be folded inwardly substantially 180 degrees, each chime engaging tab defined by an arcuate cut line communicating with side out lines parallel to the side edges of said side wall and a fold line substantially above the arcuate out line intersecting the side cut lines and parallel to the top edge of said side wall and substantially below the top edge of said side wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,814,385 11/1957 Stone 206- X 3,080,966 3/1963 Kuchenbecker 206-65 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner, 

1. A CAN CARTON, IN COMBINATION WITH A RECESSED END CAN HAVING PERIPHERAL PROJECTING CHIMES ENCIRCLING ITS ENDS, SAID CAN CARTON INCLUDING SIDE AND END WALLS HAVING PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND PARALLEL SIDE EDGES HINGEDLY ALONG PARALLEL FOLD LINES AND SECURED IN TUBULAR RELATION, A TOP CLOSURE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING END TABS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND FOLDED INWARDLY INTO SUBSTANTIALLY FACE CONTACT WITH SAID CAN, A TOP FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP EDGE OF ONE OF SAID END WALLS FOLDED INTO FACE CONTACT WITH SAID END TABS AND SECURED THERETO, A BOTTOM CLOSURE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING END TABS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND FOLDED INWARDLY INTO SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR RELATION, A BOTTOM FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE OTHER OF SAID END WALLS FOLDED INTO FACE CONTACT WITH SAID END TABS AND SECURED THERETO, AND CHIME ENGAGING THE TABS FORMED FROM EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP EDGE THERETO FOLDED INWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY 180 DEGREES AND ENGAGING THE CHIMES OF SAID CAN THEREBY SECURING THE CAN ADJACENT THE TOP CLOSURE ASSEMBLY. 